November 30, 1609 – 2009

At last the memorable night has come. If the weather in Bavaria stays as is now, we might have the chance of repeating the observations of the moon exactly 400 years after Galileo’s. Although Galileo has almost certainly observed the moon before November 30, 1609 (have a look for instance here) and this date might only be a symbolic one, yet it is a good one to celebrate. To avoid the risk of sounding rhetoric, let me quote what Johannes Kepler wrote in his Dioptrice:

Oh telescope omniscient and more precious than a sceptre,

who holds thee in his right hand is a true king, a ruler of worlds;

amongst all astronomers it seems that Galilei has been the first

to whom holding this sceptre fell.